Honeycomb by Joanne M. HarrisMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
“Up above and down below, Down below and up above, The world’s a honeycomb, my love, The world’s a honeycomb.”
Honeycomb was a collection of myths, legends, and folktales that begin with the myth of the bees and how drinking from the dreamflower and carrying it into the Nine Worlds creates their Honeycomb Queen, the first of the Silken Folk or what is more commonly known, the Fae. From this origin, the book is laid out in very short stories, a couple pages, and divided into two sections. The first book welcomes readers into the world and introduces the Lacewing King, the son of the Honeycomb Queen. From a baby to an adult, his stories and journeys create the backbone of the book. Some the shorter stories take place in the world but don't directly relate to the Lacewing King's journey and some introduce characters that eventually become intertwined with his story.
The Lacewing King went on his way without even a second thought for the two strangers he had saved, but the Clockwork Princess did not forget. One day, she told herself, she would repay her debt to him.
Full of his power, the Lacewing King starts off bold, careless, and brash and decides to steal the Spider Queen's all seeing crown. He succeeds but the Spider Queen vows revenge and we have her, along with the dangerous Harlequin, as the villains of the first half, while another protagonist, the Lacewing King's granddaughter the Barefoot Princess, has the beginnings of her story told and it starts to intertwine with her father's. The second half and book two has the Spider Queen getting some of her revenge and the addition of another villain, the Hallowe'en King, coming into the story and the Barefoot Princess and her journeys take over as she tries to find and save her father the Lacewing King.
Banished by the Spider Queen, he was dragged through the space between the Worlds into a different place and time; into a different ocean.
As fairytales are won't to to do, this was full of legends and myths that try and teach a lesson, whether it be the impatience and ego of youth or how to treat your fellow human beings and live in harmony with nature. There were a few well known tales and couple that added some modern freshness but they always lead back to the main thread of the Lacewing King and his granddaughter. I had initially expected detailed drawings but they were more sketched shadows, probably to keep the allure of an otherworldly atmosphere and let your own imagination play a part. My favorite illustration and the most clear was of the Hallowe'en King, it helped to add to his menacing tone and the creepy atmosphere of Hel. The ending tale of the Lacewing King was neither happy nor sad, but fitting in completeness feel of the journey he went on. This would be a great bedtime book to read at a slower pace and take in each short story and the lessons to be learned as you journeyed with the Lacewing King through the Nine Worlds.
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